15 percent of the population suffer
from it some time or the other during their life
time
.
Urticaria is considered to be an
allergy but actually is not.
.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria, the
commonest variety, disappears eventually over a variable
period of time.In 99 percent cases no cause can be
found.
.
Antihistaminics should be taken
continuously for at least three months, by which time it
comes under control, never to come back.
2.Polymorphic light eruption
.
An eczema induced by sunlight,occurs
on the exposed areas. There could be one patch or
more.There is discomforting itching and a variable
presentation of the morphology of the rash on face or
forearms.
.
Treatment consists of sunscreens and
a cortisone cream for the rash.
3.Eczema or
Dermatitis
.
There are many varieties of eczema.
They arise due to exogenous or endogenous
causes.Allergic contact dermatitis or Irritant
dermatitis is due to external reasons.
.
Atopic eczema is a variety of
endogenous eczema.It is the commonest form of eczema.
.
20 percent of the population has a
family history of asthma,allergic rhinitis or
eczema(atopy).
.
The eczema usually starts at infancy
or childhood and goes through phases of worsening.
Psychological factors worsen the itching and
rash.Moisturisers, antihistaminics and antibiotics are
at times the mainstay of the treatment.
4.Psoriasis
.
A very common disease. Affects all
ages, both sexes equally.More common at older age
groups.At times affects only palms & soles.
.
There is
thickening,reddening and peeling of skin.
.
The disease is not infectious or
contagious.There are no restrictions of food.
.
The disease does not affect the life
span.There is no morbidity. It is only a cosmetic
problem.
.
There is effective treatment.
5.Hair Loss
.
There are about 100,000 to 150,000 hair on the scalp
About 10 percent go into resting phase(telogen) all the time.
10 percent hair(about 100 )per day fall daily normally.
Any hair loss more than that needs attention.
There are diseases of the hair where hair are lost, like Alopecia Areata and Pseudopelade of Brocq.
.
Then there is hair loss as a response to
sudden dieting,trauma,injury,illness,sickness,delivery,surgery
which is known as acute telogen effluvium which recovers
spontaneously after the event is over.
.
What really concerns most or commonly
occurs is chronic hair loss.
.
Chronic hair loss not resulting in obvious
baldness is known as Chronic telogen effluvium. It could be
due to anaemia, low serum ferritin levels, Hypothyroid or
Hyperthyroid state, protein deficiency etc
.
It responds well to treatment and is more
common in women.
.
Male pattern baldness and its counterpart
in women is because of the effect of male hormone or
precursors of the male hormone or a derivative known as
Dihydrotestosterone.
.
In men hereditary and stress are main
culprits.
.
In women
hyperinsulenemia,obesity,polycystic ovary syndrome or late
onset adrenal hyperplasia are possible causes one looks
at.
.
Treatment is effective most of the times,
but long term.
